Best Criminal Lawyer inTennessee

Philip N. Clark

Criminal Lawyer

Philip N. Clark is an experienced and affordable Nashville-based attorney who focuses his law practice on DUI and Criminal Defense.With over 20 years of law enforcement experience, he has the knowledge to develop and execute strategies to help you achieve your goals based on the details of your personal legal situation. He approaches each case with personalized attention to detail and works directly with clients to ease them through the legal process. Philip also understands that legal issues are often unexpected and can be a financial burden. He offers cost-efficient services and can create payment arrangements for those in need.From case inception to conclusion, Philip N. Clark makes sure to respond to your concerns in a timely manner. He works diligently and strives to provide zealous legal representation to achieve the best possible outcome in each case.

Criminal Defense

Attorney Philip N. Clark is dedicated to provide you with the best representation possible, regardless of your criminal charges. He will strive keep you informed, prepared, and as stress-free as possible from the start to finish of your case.

DUI Defense

Attorney Philip N. Clark understands how serious DUI charges are and how they can impact you and your loved ones. He will strive to provide you the best representation possible and help you achieve the best outcome for your case.

Domestic Violence Law

Attorney Philip N. Clark understands that domestic violence charges are a sensitive matter to all those involved. During your free case evaluation, he will listen to the facts and details of your case and provide you with honest and straight forward advice on your rights and options in moving forward with your case.

Drug Charges

There are many benefits of hiring Attorney Philip N. Clark to represent you in drug charge cases. With over twenty years of law enforcement experience, including service as a police officer and probation and parole officer, he understands how to approach each and every aspect of your case.

Theft Charges

Attorney Philip N. Clark recognizes the severity of theft charges. Although a theft charge might seem like something minor, a theft conviction can really take a toll on your reputation and your employment opportunities. A theft charge is no light matter. Attorney Philip N. Clark has the experience and knowledge to lay out the options available to you during this tough time.

Rob McKinney

Criminal Lawyer

Criminal defense attorney Rob McKinney was admitted to practice in the state of Tennessee and U.S. District Court in 1994. He is an active member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the American Association for Justice, the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association, the Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, the Nashville Bar Association, the Tennessee Bar Association, and the American Bar Association.

Strengthening Your Defense through Mock Trials

Mr. McKinney and his paralegal staff provide personalized service and put your case to the test in a focus group mock trial. While that may seem to be an unusual tactic in handling your case, we have found it to be effective. In a confidential manner, we present your case in front of a de-facto “jury of your peers” before it is tried in a court of law. That approach provides us insight on the strengths and weaknesses of your case before it even sees a courtroom.

While we cannot guarantee results, we do offer our clients a sense of hope by working to find the best resolution to their criminal matter. We understand that you may be frightened. A criminal charge at any level can affect your entire life. Your freedom, your family, your job, and your reputation are all at stake. A DUI conviction could mean the loss of your driver’s license. Your life is too important talk to our experienced criminal defense lawyer today about your legal options

Education
  • J.D.Nashville School of LawNashville, TN
  • B.S. | Major: Political ScienceTennessee Tech UniversityCookeville, TN1981
Licenses
  • Tennessee1994

Bernie McEvoy

Criminal Lawyer

Attorney Bernie McEvoy has more than 25 years of experience in criminal law including DUI’s, domestic violence, sex crimes, and criminal citations.

He began his career as an assistant district attorney here in Nashville. He worked as a prosecutor for 15 years, from 1990 through 2005.

For six years, Bernie McEvoy prosecuted driving under the influence and vehicular homicide cases exclusively. He is a former head of the DUI/vehicular homicide prosecution team. In that position, he handled thousands of DUI cases and related cases. He tried more than 100 DUI cases and 10 vehicular homicide cases in front of juries.

As a result of this experience, he is knowledgeable about breath-alcohol testing, blood-alcohol testing, the property administration of field sobriety tests, accident investigation, and other subjects related to DUI prosecution and defense. He knows how police officers investigate DUI cases, how prosecutors evaluate these cases, how they prepare for trial, and how they present their cases at trial.

For six years, Bernie McEvoy prosecuted some of the most serious cases handled by his office: child abuse cases, including serious physical abuse cases and sexual abuse cases. He also prosecuted child homicide cases, including shaken baby cases. He is knowledgeable about the complex medical issues involved in sexual abuse cases, physical abuse cases, and homicide cases. He knows how detectives investigate these cases, how prosecutors evaluate these cases, how they prepare for trial, and how they present their cases at trial.

Attorney Bernie McEvoy left the Office of the District Attorney in 2005. Since that time, he has devoted his practice to criminal defense, representing clients charged with serious criminal offenses throughout Middle Tennessee. He has represented clients charged with a wide variety of offenses, including but not limited to:

Vehicular Offenses

  • DUI
  • Vehicular assault
  • Vehicular homicide

Drug Offenses

  • Sale or distribution of controlled substances
  • Conspiracy to sell of distribute controlled substances
  • Money-laundering

Violent Crimes

  • Homicide
  • Robbery
  • Kidnapping
  • Child abuse
  • Child neglect
  • Assault

Domestic Violence

  • Domestic assault
  • Aggravated domestic assault
  • Violation of an order of protection
  • Harassment
  • Stalking

Sex Offenses

  • Rape
  • Rape of a child
  • Aggravated sexual battery
  • Sexual battery
  • Sexual battery by an authority figure
  • Statutory rape by an authority figure
  • Statutory rape
  • Sexual exploitation of a minor (possession of child pornography)
  • Aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor (distribution of child pornography)
  • Especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor (production of child pornography)
  • Violation of the sexual offender registry
  • Indecent exposure/public indecency

Other Offenses

  • Burglary
  • Theft
  • Weapons possession

As an assistant district attorney, Attorney Bernie McEvoy lectured police recruits at the Metro Nashville Police Academy. He instructed them on how to testify in court. Now, Attorney Bernie McEvoy is a frequent lecturer on subjects such as defending clients charged with DUI, defending clients charged with child abuse, and defending clients charged with child sexual abuse.

Attorney Bernie McEvoy grew up in Schenectady, New York. He graduated from Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts in 1990. Following his graduation from college, he worked as a newspaper reporter. There, he covered a number of criminal trials and decided that he would rather work in the criminal justice system, rather than merely write about it. He attended Vanderbilt Law School and graduated in 1990. He and his wife Blair have three children. In his limited spare time, attorney Bernie McEvoy coaches youth soccer, though only with young children, as older children know more about soccer than he does.

Garth Best

Criminal Lawyer

Attorney R. Garth Best is an alumnus from the prestigious Virginia Military Institute (Class of 2003). Upon graduation from VMI, he received a degree in International Studies (B.A.) with a concentration in Middle Eastern Studies, as well as a minor in Arabic and Business. He studied Arabic and Political Science abroad in both Morocco and Egypt. While working full-time in the family business, he attended Nashville school of law. He interned at the Public Defender’s Office in Hamilton County, TN, volunteering over 20 hours a week to indigent defense. He was also elected Vice President of the Honor Council of his law school in 2007 & 2008.

Mr. Best received his J.D. in 2008 having conducted preliminary hearings on murder cases, defended violent offenders on probation violations, and successfully negotiated over 200 cases during his studies. He accepted a position back to the “training grounds” of the Public Defender’s Office where he was employed as an Assistant Public Defender until he went into private practice in 2010.

Recognized Within the Legal Industry

Mr. Best is a well-respected member of the Chattanooga legal community. He has served as a special judge on several occasions for almost all of the General Sessions Judges in Hamilton County.

He is an active member of:

  • The Tennessee Bar Association
  • The Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
  • Chattanooga Bar Association
  • Chattanooga Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

He is admitted to practice in all state courts of Tennessee, as well as in federal court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. Mr. Best has vast experience defending almost every type of criminal violation from DUI to Murder. He has handled both criminal and civil cases arising from matters throughout Tennessee and Northern Georgia.

Mr. Best’s primary concern is always his clients. He tries to make every client feel respected and understood. He knows that not every case is the same and that each of his case’s outcome is critical to his maintaining a solid reputation. That is why he strives to meet each client’s goals and treat them like they are his primary concern. He is not afraid to fight for your rights and knows that sometimes the best defense is a good offense.

Mr. Best has been named to the National Trial Lawyers Top 40 under 40 and is rated 10.0 Superb by Avvo..

Michael S. Rexroat

Criminal Lawyer

Michael S. Rexroat (Mike to his friends and clients) is originally from a small town in Kentucky. He joined the United States Marine Corps immediately after high school. He served four years as a Marine Corps military policeman.Mike returned to Kentucky after being honorably discharged and continued his law enforcement career. He served over sixteen years as a law enforcement officer.  This service was spread between the Bowling Green Police Department and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in California.  

Mike graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s degree from Hope International University in Fullerton, California. He also graduated Cum Laude with a Master’s degree from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.  

Mike attended the Nashville School of Law.  He graduated ranked third among his sixty-eight classmates.  He was inducted into Nashville School of Law’s honor society, Cooper’s Inn.  He is a member of the Tennessee Bar Association, the Nashville Bar Association, and the Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys.   

Jack D. Lowery

Criminal Lawyer

Jack D. Lowery lives in Lebanon, Tennessee and is a senior partner with Lowery, Lowery, & Cherry, PLLC. Jack attended the University of Tennessee – Knoxville where he graduated in 1993 and obtained his Doctor of Jurisprudence Degree in 1998 From Nashville School of Law. Mr. Lowery immediately joined his father in his present firm where he has been practicing in the areas criminal defense, personal injury, and corporate/business matters since 1998.

Mr. Lowery’s practice covers much of Tennessee with a concentration of cases in the Middle Tennessee area. Mr. Lowery has spent most of his practice litigating both criminal and civil cases at the state and federal levels. Additionally, Mr. Lowery has represented the interest of both individuals and corporate entities before governmental agencies on issues of affecting their particular business.Mr. Lowery is experienced in complex litigation matters. He has handled criminal matters involving multi-defendant cases where conduct has been alleged in multiple states. His experience includes defending allegations of all types including multiple murder, drug trafficking, abuse, “white collar” embezzlement and fraud cases.

Civilly, Mr. Lowery has handled multi-plaintiff cases against multiple defendants as well as the single plaintiff. He has handled general personal injury claims, wrongful death actions, and complex truck litigation matters. Over the years Mr. Lowery has obtained millions of dollars of injury recovery through settlement or trial.

Mr. Lowery served as the President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer of the 15th Judicial District Bar Association. From 1999 to 2004 Mr. Lowery served as the Prosecutor for the City of Lebanon. Mr. Lowery was named as a “Mid-South Rising Star for 2008” & “Mid-South Super Lawyer” by Super Lawyers Magazine in 2009 & 2010. Mr. Lowery is a 2009 graduate from the Tennessee Bar Association “Leadership Law Class”. Mr. Lowery previously served on the Judicial Selection Commission which is responsible for review of applicants for Judicial vacancies from the Circuit Level through the Supreme Court Level in the State of Tennessee where he was appointed by the Lt. Governor.

In addition to his legal activities Mr. Lowery is Past Chairman of Young Leaders Council of Tennessee Road Builders Association; past Board Member of the TRBA and Past President of TRBA. In addition he serves on their Legislative and Environmental Committees. Mr. Lowery also sits on the City of Lebanon Airport Commission.

Jack is a pilot who holds current fixed wing and rotorcraft endorsements. When he is not working he enjoys spending time with his wife and children on their farm or engaged in sports activities.

Practice Areas

  • Criminal Defense
  • Personal Injury
  • Corporate/Business Matters

Admissions

  • 1998, Tennessee
  • 1999, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Tennessee
  • 1999, U.S. District Court, Western District of Tennessee
  • 2001, U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
  • 2003, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee

Cynthia Sherwood

Criminal Lawyer

Cynthia A. Sherwood is the founder of Sherwood Boutique Litigation, PLC. Her practice of law is focused on providing clients with aggressive criminal defense and civil litigation defense. She is best known for her personal attention, absolute discretion, and fierce representation of her clients.Ms. Sherwood received her undergraduate degree in Political Science with honors in 1997 from Delta State University. She received her Law Degree from Vanderbilt University School of Law also with honors. At Vanderbilt she also received the Carl J. Ruskowski Clinical Legal Education Award. This prestigious award is given to the graduating student who demonstrated excellence in the practice of law and exemplified the highest standards of the legal profession

Throughout the past two decades, Cynthia has relentlessly fought for her clients. She has been recognized as a leader in the legal community and as a legal commentator in the Nashville area. What gives her the most joy is coming to work every day for the clients of SBL.

She is admitted to practice in Tennessee and is a member of the bar of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and the U.S. District Courts for the Middle and Western Districts of Tennessee.

DAVID L. CLARKE

Criminal Lawyer

As a Murfreesboro attorney, I handle criminal defense cases and personal injury cases. I realize that when someone hires me for one of these legal issues, they are going through one of the toughest times in their lives. When hired on your case, I will meet with you as often as necessary and will promptly return your phone calls and/or emails. I work with you to develop a strategy and plan for your case to ensure the best possible outcome for your specific case.

BACKGROUND & LEGAL PRACTICE

I graduated with honors from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 2008. Immediately following graduation, I worked for three years as an Associate and Partner with a law firm in Manchester, Tennessee. It has always been my dream to own my own business and to work for myself. In 2012, I started The Clarke Law Firm in Murfreesboro and I have been working hard for myself and my clients ever since.

I am a member of the following associations:

  • Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce
  • National Trial Lawyers “Top 100 Trial Lawyers”
  • Rutherford/Cannon County Bar Association
  • Tennessee Bar Association

I’m a trial lawyer who represents people in both federal and state courts. I am proud of my record of success and the positive feedback from the my clients. I focus my practice in the areas of:

  • Criminal Defense
  • Personal injury

PERSONAL LIFE

When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with my wife and two kids. I also enjoy playing basketball, tennis, running, hiking and skiing.

Having the best criminal lawyer in Tennessee, or in any jurisdiction, is crucial for several reasons:

  1. Protecting your rights: A skilled criminal lawyer will ensure that your constitutional rights are protected throughout the legal process. They will make sure that law enforcement and prosecutors follow proper procedures and respect your rights, such as the right to remain silent and the right to legal representation.

  2. Knowledge of the law: Criminal law is complex and constantly evolving. A top criminal lawyer in Tennessee will have an in-depth understanding of state and federal laws, as well as any recent legal developments. They can analyze the facts of your case, identify relevant laws, and determine the best defense strategies.

  3. Experience and expertise: The best criminal lawyers have extensive experience handling a wide range of criminal cases. They understand the intricacies of the legal system, know how to navigate the courtroom effectively, and have the skills to present a persuasive defense. Their expertise allows them to anticipate potential challenges and develop strong arguments on your behalf.

  4. Case assessment and strategy: A top criminal lawyer will thoroughly review the evidence against you, identify weaknesses in the prosecution’s case, and evaluate possible defenses. They will advise you on the best course of action, whether it’s negotiating a plea deal, presenting a strong defense at trial, or pursuing alternative options like diversion programs or rehabilitation.

  5. Mitigating consequences: If you are found guilty or choose to plead guilty, a skilled criminal lawyer can work to minimize the potential consequences. They may negotiate for reduced charges, seek alternative sentencing options, or advocate for leniency during sentencing. Their goal is to protect your rights and achieve the most favorable outcome possible.

  6. Legal representation and advocacy: Going through the criminal justice system can be intimidating and overwhelming. Having the best criminal lawyer in Tennessee by your side provides you with a strong advocate who will fight for your rights, guide you through the legal process, and represent your interests at every stage.

Ultimately, having the best criminal lawyer in Tennessee can significantly impact the outcome of your case. They can provide you with the knowledge, experience, and support necessary to navigate the complexities of the criminal justice system and strive for the best possible resolution.

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